So, I’m back. For the last month, I have been intentionally disconnected from blogging and social media, both personal and professional. I called this period “going dark,” and I turned the lights back on this past Tuesday, Sept. 12 (read my full explanation of “going dark” here).

Can I be honest?

I didn’t want to come back.

Truth.

I am in no hurry to get back into the swing of Facebook posts and blogging monologues. Not because I don’t think such things have value, but because I enjoyed my time away THAT much. I didn’t think I would. Well, I kind of did, but only in the way you think you will enjoy a salted caramel Frappucino even though you’ve never had one but you never really know how much you will enjoy one until you’re actually enjoying one. And all other things suddenly have less value than this thing of glory you are beholding with all your senses.

That’s what going dark was for me: Beholding a thing of glory with all my senses.

In all those hours a week I normally would have spent on social media and blogging activities, I redirected my energy into worship. Reading my Bible, doing Bible studies, serving, praying, singing praises.

Those four AHmazing weeks were the best choice I have made in a really long time.

Better than taking a vacation.

Better than a girls night out.

Better than a shopping trip.

Better than another trip to the coffee shop.

Stepping away from my normal activity, regardless of what I have going on in my life and career, and stepping closer to God in intimate, extended time alone with Him is NEVER a mistake.

In these last four weeks, God covered a lot of ground with me. He brought out some things I had been hiding away. He corrected my thinking on several points. He infused me with more courage than I thought possible.

God laid out a vision for my writing that looks nothing like what I had planned.

I am champing at the bit to get started on the work necessary to fulfill this vision. Some of it involves some exciting things and some it involves some scary things – things I know will push (*ahem* SHOVE) me out of my comfort zone.

But I know it’s from God, and all plans made by God succeed.

More than ever I feel like the broken vessel through which God is gonna accomplish some amazing things on his to-do list.

And that excites me to no end!

The fame and glory will be all his, and I’m more than okay with that. I am humbled to that. I am COURAGEOUS in that.

So what exactly does this new vision for my writing include, you ask?

Well, I’ll tell you.

Soon. 🙂

But I can tell you this right now: It involves less blogging. I never thought I’d say that, friends. In fact, for the first half of this year, my focus has been on GROWING my blog, even looking for ways to generate income from it. In these last four weeks, however, God has shown me that although my blog will still exist, its purpose is different than what I had anticipated it to be. The blog will be less prominent in my writing life so that I have more time to dedicate to my true calling as a writer, which is….

…going to be revealed at a later time.

Did you really think I’d go the other direction? Lol.

Friends, I am so glad to be back with you. I will greatly miss my extended time alone with God, but I know that He pulls us away like that for the purpose of preparation.

He wanted to prepare me for what comes next, and in order to do so, He needed my undivided attention.

My hope is the lessons He taught me will become evident as you and I spend more time together, and that I might be a broken vessel through which God stirs something in your life as well.

Be blessed. Be well. Be lovely.

Until next time,